The Capitol Building is seen Monday, Jan. 8, 2018, in Olympia.
Washingtonians have one less reason to fear religious persecution now that lawmakers in both chambers have voted to pass bills protecting their religious information.
A press release stated that the disclosure of personal religious information to the federal government is an unfair practice in violation of state discrimination laws. House Bill 2097, and a companion bill in the Senate, seeks to prevent those infringements from occurring.
HB 2097, sponsored by Rep. Derek Stanford, D-Bothell, provides protections against religious discrimination. It passed out of the House unanimously. A similar bill sponsored by Sen. Guy Palumbo, D-Maltby, passed through the Senate as “sister legislation.”
“It is unfortunate that a culture of religious intolerance is brewing in our country. We must not be silent while whole communities are scapegoated due to their religious affiliation,” said Stanford in a press release. “This measure will prevent our state from taking part in any federal religious registry, and I am glad to see bipartisan support for this effort to protect religious minorities.”
Specifically, the bills prevent employers from requiring disclosure of an employee’s religious affiliations. Further, the legislation prevents public agencies and personnel from using agency resources to disclose a person’s religious affiliations to the federal government or compiling information information related to religious beliefs, national origin or ethnicity for immigration or law enforcement purposes. The bills also limit the power of local and state law enforcement agencies from collecting or using information about an individual’s religious affiliation, with limited exceptions, and exempts personal information about religions affiliations from disclosure under the Public Records Act.
“No one should have their religion used against them, whether through prejudice or through Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE),” Palumbo said in the release. “Religion is a choice and a right, not a tool for incarcerating law-abiding people.”
With both bills approved they will now head to Gov. Jay Inslee for consideration to be signed into law.
